A 24/7 Adventist Health and Fitness TV Station, Right Here in the ATL

True Health TV: A Remarkable Affair

A screenshot from True Health TV’s website of CEO Dr. Debbie Wallace.

DR. DEBBIE WALLACE AND HER AMAZING ENDEAVOR

Berean member and “media mogul” Dr. Debbie Wallace was featured on a 3ABN interview show this weekend. I am not sure when it originally aired, but it was rerun Sunday evening at 8:30 p.m.  I used to watch a lot more of the programming of “True Health TV” when it was brand new, as much of the air-time was filled with standard Adventist broadcast materials such as lectures on prophesy, and reruns of “Amazing Facts.” Sunday afternoon still features “Breath of Life” broadcasts. This long-running series currently puts the spotlight on former Berean Pastor Carlton P. Byrd. I used to watch former host (another ex-pastor of Berean) Walter L. Pearson “religiously,” long before I joined the church. “TrueHealth” still offers a lot of programming from the 3ABN black-oriented “Dare to Dream” sub-network. Interesting, but in a whacky way, is the regular presentation of a nutrition show produced by New Mexico State University, VIGA (which stands for “Vegetables in Great Abundance). The host goes around to farmer’s markets in New Mexico, chatting with growers, and then teaches us how to cook with hot peppers and cactus and suchlike Western fodder. It is a cute name, for a Viga is a characteristic feature of the indigenous architecture of this area.

I put a circle around the “viga” in this image. I guarantee you have seen one, but I bet you did not know what it was called. Neither did I!

As of late, Dr. Wallace has managed to place much more emphasis upon health matters as the station programming line-up evolves. This is an important ministry, but not one of my obsessions. It is, however, well recognized as being an effective gateway for introducing people to the greater Adventist message. Diet, medical news, and exercise  dominates “TrueHealth” programming these days. All of my calisthenics are job-related, predominately the Food Pantry (which is one of my obsessions). Dr. Wallace stopped by the Pantry to say howdy on November 4th of last year, where she enjoyed a bite of raw corn-on-the-cob (David Riley put her up to this, I think).

Dr. Debbie Wallace was born in Jamaica. She attended Loma Linda. She is married to Dr. Tracey Wallace, who also attended Loma Linda. He preached a sermon at Berean on 11/10/2015, a very short summary of which may be viewed at this LINK (I was less comprehensive in regard to “reportage” when this was written). Her grandfather was once ill with heart disease, and the medical establishment had washed their hands of him. When she was six, a coffin was acquired for him. Instead of dropping dead, her grandfather chose instead to modify his lifestyle. The result was that he lived an additional 22 years. This made an impression on Dr. Wallace.

Dr. Wallace never planned to get into the television business. She met a gentleman in Florida at a conference, one who called her a year later to offer her a television station. She talked it over with her husband, Dr. Tracey, who thought the idea farfetched at that time. Around this time an acquaintance of hers, here in Atlanta, who used to work for the BBC, had been praying for a TV station to get involved with.  The offer of a station was repeated by the gentleman from Florida, but this time it was offered at no cost. Dr. Wallace informed her husband of this new development. He replied that she was “still crazy.” Dr. Wallace prayed about the matter, informing God of the urgent need for a studio and offices for the anticipated station. That very day, the Lord answered her prayer. Additionally, a  retired broadcast engineer (Antonio Campbell), one who had been lingering around Atlanta for some as yet unknown purpose, found this purpose when Dr. Wallace informed him of her situation. Like the ex-BBC employee, he signed on with “True Health.”

Antonio Campbell at the controls of “True Health TV.” God placed him in this position.

The enterprise is located in downtown Atlanta. She said that she is often approached by people from remote sections of Greater Atlanta who express an interest in the station (in an address at Berean, she noted that folks used to call the station in the middle of the night, asking about Jesus). Although the primary focus of “True Health TV” is upon health, they still exhibit a strong secondary interest in spiritual programming.

The “Health Message” is an  Ellen G. White insight that was light years in advance of the age it was conceived in (150 years ago, Dr. Tracey Wallace noted in his sermon). Dr. Debbie Wallace stated that “True Health TV” seeks to “reshape the values, and viewing habits, and eating habits” of their viewership. She described her “Biggest Loser” campaign, which promotes a healthy lifestyle. Participants enjoy the services of a Certified Lifestyle Coach. This program has a broad following. They are trying to change lives for the better.

They have just started original programing, and at the time of the interview offered two of these. Dr. Wallace expressed a wish to reach out to the “next generation,” and mentioned a short list of the social media that youth are obsessed with. A man once inquired of Dr. Wallace: “Explain to me why black Seventh-day Adventist health is on a par with that of white people, and why this is not being taught to others?” Dr. Wallace said that the mission of “True Health TV” is a response to this question.